Avocados? Yes, that sums me up.

My little sister's poem about me from a few years ago. It was written on a scrap bit of paper, and so I thought I should transcribe it digitally.
Her choice of words to describe me is telling:

Kenzie

Bold, Silly

Hazel Eyes, Red Hair

Prom, Making Movies, Camp, Friends, Avocados, Tea

Smooth

True Beauty

I was strolling through the interwebs, and I came across this poem by Sam Levenson. After all of the junk one might read in a beauty magazine, this is refreshing.  

Fun fact: it was also one of Audrey Hepburn's favorite poems, so you  know it's got to be good. 

[The flower pictures are from my latest romp to capture the spring. 

...I love flowers.]

"For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.


For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his or her 
fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge
you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
have to be restored, renewed, 
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
Never throw out anybody.

Remember,
If you ever need a helping hand,
you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older,
you will discover
that you have two hands,
one for helping yourself,
the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman
is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman
must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman
is not in a facial mole, 
but true beauty in a woman 
is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
the passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman
with passing years-only grows!"

A bit of culture

Yes, yes, I'm going to put some poetry up. Poetry = cultured

If you know a few lines of a poem by heart, you are well on your way to being a character in a novel (that's the only place I've seen people quote poetry by heart prolifically.) 

I didn't write this poem, but it's lovely nevertheless. (My humility is great, no?) 

It was written by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89) 

{as an aside, do you find it funny that his middle name was manley? 

His mother apparently thought ahead}

So, enjoy some poetry and a chill picture. 

Well...

My mental acuity is returning! I'm so glad. The brain fog is lifting, and I couldn't be happier.
(I think it has something to do with Goody's headache powder)

I apologize for being ill and whining about it.
Apparently...
I sounded like I was dying.

A New Arrival on My Shelf

I've recently acquired, through happenstance, a book, Never Let It End by Ruth Bell Graham. I've enjoyed flipping through the pages and getting a glimpse into her life.

While some will think it mushy, I LOVED this poem, and felt that it was worth re-posting, just for the utter sweetness of its message:

"Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid 

(as we're inclined to do),

I do not need a handsome man

but let him be like You;

I do not need one big and strong

nor yet so very tall,

nor need he be some genius,

or wealthy, Lord, at all;

but let his head be high, dear God, 

and let his eye be clear,

his shoulders straight, what'er his state,

what'er his earthly sphere;

and let his face have character,

a ruggedness of soul,

and let his whole life show, dear God,

a singleness of goal;

then when he comes

(as he will come)

with quiet eyes aglow,

I'll understand that he's the man

I prayed for long ago."

Isn't that sweet? It's SO encouraging to see that God blesses those who wait patiently on Him, whatever the circumstance may be (I'm not looking for my man for a long while yet, just so you know).  He knows and grants the desires of His children's hearts. How marvelous to meditate on.


 "Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Take delight in the LORD,
   and He will give you the desires of your heart.
  Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun."
-Psalm 37:3-6

How doth he!

HOW doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin!
How neatly spread his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!

-lewis carroll